Throughout the United States, thousands of Americans are injured in accidents involving commercial trucks each year. Due to the sheer size of most commercial vehicles, collisions involving standard cars are often devastating. In many cases, commercial trucking accidents are caused by the negligent actions of the trucking company or the truck driver. If you or a loved one are injured in a commercial trucking collision, seek experienced legal guidance immediately. 

Commercial Truck Accident Statistics 

With millions of commercial trucks on the road each day, trucking accidents are common and often horrific. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, there were nearly 3,900 fatal commercial trucking accidents in 2016. In all, more than 100,000 Americans suffered injuries that required hospitalization after being involved in a truck crash. While some trucking accidents are unavoidable, many are directly related to the reckless actions of an employee. 

Every year, thousands of commercial trucking accidents occur throughout the United States. Many of these accidents are caused by reckless driving, such as speeding, inebriated driving, and drowsy driving. While driver error is the leading cause of commercial trucking accidents, a large number of these accidents have nothing to do with driver negligence and are actually caused by inadequate or improper maintenance. 

Commercial trucking companies have a responsibility to adequately maintain their vehicles to ensure the safety of the public. If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident involving a tractor-trailer truck, it is entirely possible that the accident was caused by negligence at the company level. 

Common Forms of Improper Truck Maintenance 

Despite stringent regulatory programs designed to ensure that commercial trucks never become part of a traveling fleet without receiving proper maintenance, commercial trucking companies throughout the United States continue to overlook basic maintenance procedures. These oversights can endanger the drivers and passengers of other vehicles, pedestrians, and anyone else who uses the roads. 

Throughout 2016, approximately 4,500 Americans lost their lives in accidents involving large commercial vehicles. This incredible number of fatalities involving commercial trucks and buses marked a 5% increase in comparison to 2015. 

Commercial truck drivers have a responsibility to drive safely, since the sheer size of their vehicles gives them the potential to cause a great deal of damage to standard passenger vehicles. Of all the fatalities involving large commercial vehicles in 2016, only 16% of those killed were the drivers of the commercial vehicles. If you or a member of your family have been injured in a truck accident, you should work with a legal team that will protect your right to compensation from the parties who were responsible.

Forms of Negligence by Truck Drivers

Despite the fact that all truck drivers are forced to go through rigorous training programs and testing before receiving their commercial driver’s license (CDL), hundreds of truck drivers throughout the United States drive negligently and endanger others on the road. Some common ways of doing so include: 

Every year, thousands of commercial trucking accidents occur throughout the United States. Due to the sheer size of the vast majority of commercial trucks, it should come as no surprise that many of these accidents lead to serious injuries or fatalities. Throughout 2016 alone, just under 4,000 Americans died in truck accidents. If you or a member of your family are injured in a commercial trucking accident, it is entirely likely that the accident was caused by a driver’s negligence or company oversight.

The Dangers of Drowsy Driving

Thousands of Americans die on an annual basis due to drivers falling asleep at the wheel. According to studies conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately 72,000 crashes occurred in 2013 due to drowsy driving. In all, over 800 Americans lost their lives in 2013 due to the negligence of drowsy drivers.

Drowsy driving is becoming increasingly common among commercial truck drivers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists commercial truck drivers as one of the likeliest demographics to fall asleep at the wheel. Despite the fact that commercial truck drivers are only legally allowed to drive a maximum of 11 hours at a time, many truck drivers admit to violating this law. Driving for an extended amount of time has a direct correlation to collisions caused by driver fatigue. 

A recent tragedy in the Chicago area reminded us of the constant dangers semi-truck drivers face every time they start a shift. On Tuesday, September 11th, a semi-truck crashed into a Lansing apartment building, injuring themselves and one resident. The accident occurred prior to 8:00 a.m. on Torrence Avenue, south of 184th Street. While the truck driver was not fatally injured in the accident, his injuries did require hospitalization.

The accident was the latest in a long line of semi-truck accidents. In 2016 alone, over 4,400 large trucks and buses were involved in fatal accidents throughout the United States. If you or a family member are involved in a motor vehicle collision, it is paramount to speak with a legal professional.

Semi-Truck Crashes Rising Nationwide

Despite mandated testing that all drivers must pass before operating a semi-truck, accidents involving semi-trucks continue to rise. According to the Department of Transportation, semi-truck fatalities have risen 29% since 2005. In 2016, the Department of Transportation found that there was a nearly 2% increase in semi-truck fatalities, in comparison to 2015.